Daily Local tips off charity event with sheriffs Saturday

Staff Photo by Vinny Tennis
Staff from the Daily Local News will play a charity basketball game against members of the Chester County Sherriff Department to benefit the The Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center in West Chester. Front row, Shaun Jacobs, Jeffery Johnson, and Daimon Jacobs, back row, Nasseen Gibbs and Ken Winston, executive director.

WEST CHESTER — In what may become an annual event, staff members of the Daily Local News will take on members of the Chester County Sheriffs Department this Saturday in a charity basketball game at the Charles Melton Center.

All of the proceeds from the event will be given to the Melton Center to use for programs, repairs or whatever is needed at the center — critical for the community.

The center is at its busiest this time of the year, said Kenneth Winston, executive director.

“Yes this is definitely the busiest time of the year with summer basketball, trying to start a new summer program, and community day,” he said, adding that the center’s biggest problems right now are “our ... limited staff and resources.”

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Admission to the 1:30 p.m. event at the center at 501 E. Miner St. is $3 or a donation. Chips donated by the Herr’s Company and soda will be sold to add to the proceeds generated.

Daily Local News Editor Andy Hachadorian said the idea came up after a discussion with someone at the newspaper concerning old-fashioned fundraisers he had attended.

“When I was a young guy we had the Philadelphia Eagles playing our (high school) faculty to raise money,” he said. “And the other sports teams would also send out teams to play our teachers and faculty. We got a ton of people to come out and these events raised a lot of money.

“It’s a chance to have some good-natured fun with the sheriffs and to raise money at the same time,” Hachadorian added.

According to Winston, the money will go to a good cause.

“It will absolutely help the cause because it will be used to resurface the gym floor where the board raised $1,900 out of their own pockets,” he said. “The total cost of the gymnasium floor is $2,800.”

Hachadorian said even if the event raises “several hundred dollars” it will be a help.

“This will be the first shot at this,” he said. “Hopefully each year we hold the event it will grow and grow.” The editor added that businesses and others who just wish to donate money to the center can do so by sending checks payable to the Melton Center either directly to the center or to the newspaper at 250 North Bradford Ave., West Chester, Pa., 19382.

“The team here in West Chester is always looking for ways to contribute to the community,’ he said, “and this is a perfect example of that.”

So is there a bit of gamesmanship going on?

“Frankly, we’re a little scared of these sheriffs,” Hachadorian laughed. They are going to have official shirts, and they’re already talking some trash. We’ll see. We have a few secret weapons and some tricks up our sleeves too.”